Locally isolated protected bulk finfet semiconductor device

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor device includes a bulk substrate having a plurality of trenches formed therein. The trenches define a plurality of semiconductor fins that are integral with the bulk semiconductor substrate. A local dielectric material is disposed in each trench and between each pair of semiconductor fins among the plurality of semiconductor fins. The semiconductor device further includes an etch resistant layer formed on the local dielectric material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/685,735, filed Nov. 27, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporatedby reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to a FinFET semiconductordevice, and more specifically, locally isolating semiconductor fins of abulk semiconductor FinFET device.

Various conventional techniques exist for isolating source and drainregions included in FinFET semiconductor devices. One approach employs asilicon-on-insulator (SOI) semiconductor substrate, which includes aburied oxide (BOX) layer disposed between a bulk semiconductor layer andan active silicon layer. One or more semiconductor fins are formed onthe active silicon layer such that the BOX isolates the source regionfrom the drain region.

Another approach is to form one or more semiconductor fins on a bulksemiconductor substrate. To isolate the source region from the drainregion, a dielectric material is deposited locally over and between thesemiconductor fins. However, since the dielectric material is depositedon an outer surface of the fins and the semiconductor substrate, thedielectric material is exposed to the surrounding environment.Accordingly, the local dielectric material is susceptible to erosionduring gate formation and spacer etching processes. Excess erosion ofthe dielectric material may increases the possibility of junctionleakage at the gate.

SUMMARY

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a methodof fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a plurality oftrenches in a bulk semiconductor substrate, where each trench defines asemiconductor fin. A local dielectric material is deposited in thetrenches and covers each semiconductor fin. The local dielectricmaterial disposed in each trench is recessed a predetermined distancebelow the semiconductor fins. An etch resistant layer, which isresistant to at least one of a gate etching process and a spacer etchingprocess, is formed on an upper surface of each recessed local dielectricmaterial.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of isolating aplurality of semiconductor fins formed in a bulk semiconductor substratecomprises depositing a dielectric material between adjacent fins amongthe plurality of semiconductor fins. The dielectric material is recesseda predetermined distance below the fins to expose an upper surface. Anetch resistant layer is selectively deposited on the upper surface ofthe local dielectric material.

In still another embodiment of the disclosure, a semiconductor devicecomprises a bulk semiconductor substrate having a plurality of trenchesformed therein. The trenches define a plurality of semiconductor finsthat are integrally formed from the bulk semiconductor substrate. Alocal dielectric material is disposed in each trench and between a pairof semiconductor fins among the plurality of semiconductor fins. An etchresistant layer is formed on the local dielectric material.

Additional features and utilities are realized through the techniques ofthe present disclosure. Other embodiments and utilities are described indetail herein and are considered a part of the claimed embodiments. Fora better understanding of the features, refer to the followingdescription and corresponding drawings illustrating various embodimentsof the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The following subject matter is particularly pointed out and distinctlyclaimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. Theforgoing and other features of various embodiments of the disclosure areapparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1-8 are a series of views illustrating a method of forming afinFET device according to exemplary embodiments of the presentteachings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an initial bulk semiconductorsubstrate;

FIG. 2 illustrates the bulk semiconductor of FIG. 1 having a mandrellayer formed thereon;

FIG. 3 illustrates the bulk semiconductor substrate illustrated in FIG.2 following an etching process that forms individual mandrels from themandrel layer;

FIG. 4 illustrates the bulk semiconductor substrate including aplurality of semiconductor fins defined by patterning the semiconductorsubstrate illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates the bulk semiconductor substrate illustrated in FIG.4 after depositing a dielectric material between the fins;

FIG. 6 illustrates the bulk semiconductor substrate illustrated in FIG.5 after recessing the deposited dielectric material;

FIG. 7 illustrates an atomic layer deposition process that introducesblocking copolymers to the bulk semiconductor substrate of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates the bulk semiconductor substrate shown in FIG. 6after selectively forming an protective etch resistant layer on therecessed dielectric material; and

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of fabricating asemiconductor device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a semiconductor structure 100 according to atleast one embodiment of the disclosure. The semiconductor structure 100includes a bulk semiconductor substrate 102 extending along an X-axis todefine a length, and a Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis to define aheight. The bulk semiconductor substrate 102 may be formed from asemiconductor material such as silicon (Si), for example. A mandrellayer 104 is formed on an upper surface of the bulk semiconductorsubstrate 102. The mandrel layer 104 can be formed by chemical vapordeposition (CVD) of silicon oxide (SiO₂) on the upper surface of thebulk semiconductor substrate 102. Further, the mandrel layer 104 may beformed from a material having a composition different from the bulksemiconductor substrate 102 to achieve an etching selectivity. Thematerial of the mandrel layer 104 includes, but is not limited to,photoresist, polycrystalline silicon, silicon oxide, silicon nitride,and silicon germanium.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the mandrel layer 104 is patterned to form aplurality of individual mandrels 106. More specifically, a mandrelpatterning mask (not shown) may be disposed on the surface of themandrel layer 104. One or more portions of the mandrel layer 104 may bepatterned according to the patterning mask using various processesincluding but not limited to, lithography, to form a plurality oftrenches 108. Accordingly, each trench is separated from one another byan individual mandrel 106. A well-known sidewall image transfer (SIT)process may utilize the individual mandrels 106 to etch fin trenches 110into the bulk semiconductor substrate 102, thereby defining one or moresemiconductor fins 112, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Since the fins 112 arepatterned into the bulk semiconductor substrate 102, the fins 112 andthe semiconductor bulk substrate 102 are formed from the same material,such as Si. After forming the fins 112 in the bulk semiconductorsubstrate 102, the individual mandrels 106 may be removed from thesemiconductor fins 112 as further illustrated in FIG. 4. Variousprocedures may be performed to remove the mandrels 106 including, butnot limited to, an etch chemistry process.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a local dielectric material 114, such as anoxide isolation material, is deposited in the fin trenches 110 toisolate a source region from a drain region. The local dielectricmaterial 114 may be a high-aspect-ratio process (HARP) oxide material.In at least one embodiment, the local dielectric material 114 comprisessilicon oxide (SiO₂). The process of depositing the local dielectricmaterial 114 may include depositing the dielectric material 114 entirelyover the fins 112 and then polishing back the dielectric material 114until it is flush with the upper portions of the fins 112. Thedielectric material 114 may then be recessed a predetermined distancebelow fins 112 such that a cavity 116 is formed between upper portionsof adjacent fins 112 as illustrated in FIG. 6. In at least oneembodiment, the dielectric material 114 is recessed about half-way belowrespective adjacent fins 112. Various processes may be used to form thecavities 116 including, but not limited to, corona etching and SiCoNichemical etching.

After forming the cavities 116 to expose the fins 112 and an uppersurface of the local dielectric material 114, the bulk semiconductordevice 102 may undergo an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process toselectively form an etch resistant layer on the dielectric material 114.The etch resistant layer may serve as a protection layer that protectsthe underlying local dielectric material 114 from inadvertent erosioncaused by gate and spacer etching and pattering processes. The etchresistant layer may have a thickness from about 2 nanometers (nm) toabout 6 nm. Further, the etch resistant layer may be etched according toan etching process that is different from conventional etching processesutilized to pattern a gate region and/or spacers of in bulksemiconductor devices. Various methods to form the etch resistant layeron the dielectric material 114 may be employed, as discussed in greaterdetail below.

Referring to at least one embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7-8, an ALDpositive patterning process is applied to an upper surface of therecessed dielectric material 114. In at least one embodiment, the ALDpositive patterning process is applied to bulk semiconductor substrateformed from a hydrogen terminated material such as Si, and a localdielectric material 114 comprising a HARP oxide material such as siliconoxide (SiO₂). As specifically illustrated in FIG. 7, the positivepatterning ALD process employs blocking copolymers (R) that attach toelements of the semiconductor bulk substrate 102 formed from the Si,such as the semiconductor fins 112. The blocking copolymers (R) resistgrowth of high dielectric constant (high-k) materials including, but notlimited to, HfO₂. Accordingly, an etch resistant layer 118, whichwithstands etching and patterning processes utilized in gate and spacerpatterning, may be selectively formed on the recessed dielectricmaterial 114 as shown in FIG. 8. That is, the blocking copolymers (R)selectively block an etch resistant layer 118 comprising a high-kmaterial from forming on Si regions of the bulk semiconductor substrate102 such as the fins 112, while the etch resistant layer 118 is allowedto form on areas excluding the blocking co-polymers (R) such as thedielectric material 114. Accordingly, the etch resistant layer mayprotect the dielectric material 114 from erosion caused by subsequentetching and pattering. Moreover, since erosion of the dielectricmaterial is prevented, the thru pitch control at the gate may beimproved such that junction leakage is reduced.

In another embodiment, the HfO₂ etch resistant layer 118 is grown on anupper surface of a HARP oxide dielectric material 114 using nucleationALD. More specifically, a high-k material such as HfO₂ is responsive tonucleation on both a chemical oxide material such as Si—O—H and athermal oxide material such as SiO₂ and Si—O—N, while being inherentlyresistive to nucleation, i.e., growth, on hydrogen terminated material,such as Si. Accordingly, an etch resistant layer 118 comprising HfO₂ maybe selectively grown on the semiconductor bulk substrate 102. Morespecifically, the etch resistant layer 118 may be grown on the localdielectric material 114 comprising SiO2, while the HfO₂ is inhibitedfrom growing on Si regions such as the semiconductor fins 112.Accordingly, the HfO₂ etch resistant layer 118 protects the underlyinglocal dielectric material 114 from erosion caused by gatepattering/etching, spacer etching, replacement metal gate (RMG), finepitaxy deposition SiCoNi pre-cleaning, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a flow diagram illustrates a method offabricating a semiconductor device according to an embodiment of thedisclosure. At operation 900, a mandrel layer is formed on a bulksemiconductor substrate. The mandrel layer is patterned at operation 902to form a plurality of individual mandrels. Various pattern processesmay be applied to the mandrel layer including, but not limited to,lithography. At operation 904, a plurality of trenches is patternedalong the sides of the mandrels and into the bulk semiconductorsubstrate. The mandrels may be subsequently removed after the trenchesare formed, thereby leaving a plurality of semiconductor fins formedintegrally from the bulk semiconductor substrate. At operation 906, alocal dielectric material, i.e., an oxide isolation material such asSiO₂, is deposited on the bulk semiconductor substrate and in thetrenches. The local dielectric material deposited in the trenches isrecessed below the semiconductor fins at operation 908. At operation910, an etch resistant layer is selectively deposited on the recessedlocal dielectric material and the method ends. Accordingly, an etchresistant layer may be selectively formed on the semiconductor device toprotect the local dielectric material from subsequent etching processessuch as a poly carbon gate etching process and a spacer etching process,which are conventionally applied to semiconductor device.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing variousembodiments only and is not intended to limit the disclosure. As usedherein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to includethe plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of onemore other features, integers, steps, operations, element components,and/or groups thereof.

The flow diagrams depicted herein are just one example. There may bemany variations to this diagram or operations described therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the embodiments. For instance, theoperations may be performed in a differing order, or operations may beadded, deleted or modified. All of these variations are considered apart of the claimed embodiments.

While various embodiments of the disclosure are described, it will beunderstood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future,may make various modifications which fall within the scope of thefollowing claims. These claims should be construed to maintain theproper protection of the various embodiments described herein.

1. A semiconductor device, comprising: a bulk semiconductor substrate; aplurality of trenches formed in the bulk semiconductor substrate, thetrenches defining a plurality of semiconductor fins that are integralwith the bulk semiconductor substrate; a local dielectric materialdisposed in each trench and between each pair of semiconductor finsamong the plurality of semiconductor fins; and an etch resistant layerformed on the local dielectric material.
 2. The semiconductor device ofclaim 1, wherein the etch resistant layer is formed only on the localdielectric material.
 3. The semiconductor device of claim 2, wherein thebulk semiconductor substrate is formed from a hydrogen terminatedmaterial, the local dielectric material is formed from ahigh-aspect-ratio process (HARP) oxide material and the etch-resistantlayer is formed from a high dielectric (high-k) material.
 4. Thesemiconductor device of claim 3, wherein the hydrogen terminatedmaterial is silicon (Si), the HARP oxide material is SiO₂ and the high-kmaterial is HfO₂.